KAPIT, Oct 5: A woman in her 90s perished in a devastating fire that swept through the 33-door Rumah Sebom longhouse located in Nanga Masak, Ulu Katibas of Song yesterday (Oct 4).
According to Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak, the deceased, who was was in a frail state of health, displayed burn marks on her back and hands.
Bomba Sarawak received a distress call at 4.45pm yesterday and swiftly despatched a team from the Song Station. However, reaching the remote longhouse required a daunting four-hour journey.
Upon arrival, the firefighters did not combat the blaze as the fire had already extinguished itself.
Seven other longhouse residents managed to escape unharmed.
A team from the Civil Defence Force was also despatched to the scene but their efforts were hindered by the onset of nightfall and heavy rain.
Firefighters conducted a thorough inspection to ensure there were no potential sources of ignition.
Additionally, the area was cordoned off, and notices claiming ownership of the premises due to the fire were put up.
Subsequently, the deceased was handed over to the police for further investigation.
The operation continued until 10.07pm, with the primary focus on ensuring the situation was safe and under control. — DayakDaily
